Over the past few weeks at Bluestone360, we have been working alongside one of our chosen charities, Jeremiah’s Journey, to help promote their upcoming fundraisers. We have been proud supporters of the charity, which helps bereaved children and their families, for around seven years and we hope to continue this partnership well into the future.

Having worked with the charity for a long period on their marketing communications, we were asked recently to re-brand Jeremiah’s Journey, which included creating a new logo and visual identity.

We are supporting two exciting events which will be taking place in Plymouth over the coming weeks to raise money for Jeremiah’s Journey. On May 30th, following the Plymouth half marathon, the charity will be holding an after party and barbecue at Heaven Restaurant and Bar.

This will be followed, on June 18^th, by a ladies Swish night (with a twist!) at the Treasury. For information about the events and to see how you can get involved, download the posters by clicking the images.

If you’d like to read more about Jeremiah’s Journey and their work, visit www.jeremiahsjourney.org.uk.

OUTSTANDING individuals, businesses and organisations who have survived the recession have been honoured at the Plymouth Bites Back Celebration Awards Day.

City businesses packed the exciting event at the Guildhall, where winners in 10 categories were announced yesterday.

And organisers now want the awards to be run again every year.

Kevin Kelway, regional media co-ordinator for one of the organisers, A4e, which helps jobless people, said: “The city deserves this event and we should look at it as an on-going event next year.”

Council leader Cllr Vivien Pengelly said: “It’s a fantastic event. Plymouth City Council is proud to support it.”

She added: “I hope it will be an annual event where we can get together and celebrate business.”

The awards, each of which is sponsored by a city organisation or business, were organised following The Herald’s successful Bites Back campaign, championing groups, businesses and organisations defying the recession.

The event was organised by the Plymouth Bites Back steering committee, with other city education providers, including the University of Plymouth and City College Plymouth.

It received support from Plymouth City Council and the 2020 Partnership.

Winners received £100 and a trophy provided by city business Plymouth Trophyman. Runners-up received a certificate.

All awards were announced by Bill Martin, editor of The Herald, and were presented to winners and runners-up by Lord Mayor Cllr Ken Foster.

Mr Martin said there had been many strong nominations in all categories.

He said the awards “celebrate all that is good about our city” and gave a flavour of the “diversity and spirit” found in Plymouth.

The breakfast awards ceremony, which also featured musical performances by performing arts students at City College Plymouth and music student Sarinity Powell, was only the opening event in an entire day offering support, guidance and advice for people looking to find jobs.

This included information on how to find funding for training and how to start a business.

Inspirational case studies were placed on presentation panels provided by Jobcentre Plus.

These will then form part of a roadshow which will later tour Plymouth.

Mr Kelway said: “We are really proud to have put such a good event together, and proud to tie it to The Herald’s Bites Back campaign.”

Sharron Robbie, employer liaison officer at City College Plymouth, said Plymouth’s ‘resilience and entrepreneurial spirit’ had helped shield it from the worst of the recession.

Martin Darby and Andy Russell, of computer games firm Remode, which won the Enterprise and Innovation Award, said it would be “fantastic” if the awards became an annual event.

Mervyn Orchard, director of brand consultants Bluestone360, which picked up the Education and Business Award, said it was for his firm’s policy of employing graduates on three-month projects to help charities with their websites. He said he was “shocked and honoured” to win and added: “I believe in working with the education sector to help the creative sector, which will be one of the future sectors for Plymouth.”

Jay Morrish, director of Security Management South West, which won the Creating Futures Employers Award, said his firm was proud to have won an award for helping unemployed people into work.

Alan Beal, of valetting firm 2G Services, who won the Entrepreneurship Award, said: “I’m over the moon.”

Article courtesy of Plymouth Evening Herald

A new Academy formed by one of the South West’s top creative agencies, Bluestone360, is set to attract the best young design and digital talents in the region.  The Academy will offer a talented student or graduate the opportunity to gain valuable work experience from within Bluestone360’s offices in Royal William Yard, Plymouth.  They will be exposed to the creative and digital arena working on live projects and adding an extra layer to their CV.

There is high interest and buzz surrounding this exciting new innovative venture.  Only one place is available, so the Academy is open purely to the best talent.  Students who are interested will be sent a full, authentic creative brief.  They will then be required to submit their initial creative concepts to the agency for consideration.  The best six will be invited to present their concepts to a panel made up of the agency, client, trustees and media including Alexis Bowater, journalist and former Westcountry news presenter.  The winning student will then join the Bluestone360 Academy for an initial three months with the opportunity for a full time contract if they excel.

Crucially, one of the main projects the candidate will work on from conceptual idea to live venture is the national children’s charity, CHICKS (Country Holiday for Inner City Kids) website.  CHICKS provides free respite breaks for disadvantaged children across the UK.  Aiming to give children the chance to be children and create happy memories that they can hold on to when they return to their difficult home life.  This task has a wide scope and will be both challenging and exciting for the candidate.

Gavin Braithwaite -Smith, Blustone360 director commented, “The Bluestone360 Academy will seek to attract and harness the south west’s best young design and digital talents.  Proving that the region can be a creative hotbed and that London alone doesn’t have to be the automatic choice for graduates or those seeking to further their career.  The CHICKS website represents the perfect opportunity to launch the Academy.  A live project, for a national charity, led by one of the region’s most established creative agencies. We are delighted that this Academy will offer one talented young person a fantastic opportunity to advance in this field.”

Alexis Bowater, Academy Panellist added, “It is vital to give people chances at any time of life. For students entering the rapidly changing world of media this is a golden opportunity. The winning candidate will not only have to have innovative ideas, flair and imagination but also to be able to work as a team. CHICKS is a life-affirming organisation which changes lives in a positive and permanent way. Giving young students the chance to take part in a project like this continues that philosophy.  It will bring cutting-edge ideas to the charity’s website enabling them to communicate their important message more effectively to an ever wider audience.”

If you are a student or recent graduate and would like more information on the Bluestone360 Academy, please visit the Academy website at http://www.bluestone360.co.uk/theacademy/ The closing date for entries is 7^th May 2010.

Jeremiah’s Journey, the Plymouth-based charity, would like to say a big ‘Thank you’ to everyone who took part in the Spring Ball at Boringdon Hall.

The glamorous evening, organised and sponsored by Bluestone360 as a way to celebrate 21 years of existence, went smoothly in spite of the windy weather for the greatest enjoyment of the 250 guests.

The occasion saw interventions from Mervyn Orchard, director of Bluestone360, Alastair Carnegie, director of Total Energy Solutions, Jacqui Stedmon from Jeremiah’s Journey and the introduction of Bianca, Lady Eliot as the new charity patron.

Singer Ellie Kellman supported by Karl Meyer, from the Plymouth Music Zone charity, and dance performances from the TJ’s, provided entertainment for the night.

The charity auction, raffle tickets and other contributions made a huge financial success of the event raising more than £10,000 for the charity.

Monies will enable Jeremiah’s Journey to continue providing much needed support and guidance for children and families who have experienced the death of someone special to them.

Mervyn Orchard, director of Bluestone360 says: “Bluestone360 is delighted to support this incredible local charity which helps so many families in the Plymouth area. The Spring Ball is the result of the efforts of many people. It has been a great occasion for celebrating our 21 years in business and give something back to the community. We’ve been sponsoring Jeremiah’s Journey for six years now and are committed to many more.”

Sarah Wilson from Jeremiah’s Journey says: ”The Spring Ball has been a formidable boost to our fundraising efforts and we would like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of the event by generously giving their time and money. The money raised will help so many children and their families at a critical moment in their lives.”

Mervyn has since become a trustee of Jeremiah’s Journey.